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Upskilling & finding the better teaching positions
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getbehindthemule



Joined: 15 Oct 2015
Posts: 712
Location: Shanghai
PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 10:41 am    Post subject: Upskilling & finding the better teaching positions Reply with quote
To all of you more experienced and knowledgeable folk here on Dave's, I just want to seek some advice and/or suggestions with regard to this post's subject:
In a nutshell, I am a relative newbie in my second year teaching but I have recently decided that I want to stick at it for the foreseeable future. So, what are the best options for me to better my teaching credentials? I know obtaining a teaching license from my home country is the best way into the better international school job, but besides this?

About me:
Mid-30s
BSc.
Many years of experience in industry (inc. Research/Training/Technical/Management)
Instructor skills certifications
TESOL (i-i 120hr)
2 years teaching Science in China (Primary)

Location/Goal:
Currently in China and would like to stay here for another year or two.
In the future I would like to teach in SE Asia and possibly Japan.
Considering the above, how strong are my teaching credentials at the moment? What is a logical next step in your opinion?

Any advice / feedback would be much appreciated.
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bograt



Joined: 12 Nov 2014
Posts: 331
PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 11:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
You need to be more specific about what kind of teaching you want to do, to get really useful advice. 'I would like to teach in SE Asia and possibly Japan.' is a bit vague
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getbehindthemule



Joined: 15 Oct 2015
Posts: 712
Location: Shanghai
PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 11:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Okay, sorry, I should have been more specific:
I would like to continue to teach Science (at primary level), preferably at an International school. Will the fact that I don't have a teaching license from my home country rule me out for a lot of these positions in SEA?
Any suggestions as to what I could do next to improve my credentials?
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 11:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
getbehindthemule wrote:
Okay, sorry, I should have been more specific:
I would like to continue to teach Science, preferably at an International school. Will the fact that I don't have a teaching license from my home country rule me out for a lot of these positions in SEA?
Any suggestions as to what I could do next to improve my credentials?

Regardless of where you go, having the proper teaching credentials helps you compete for the better positions.

Consider joining International Schools Review.
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RiverMystic



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 1986
PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 12:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes, teaching credentials will be necessary in most international schools. I can't say all, because I don't know all of them.

In the long run you should deliberately seek career capital. Always take on work and projects which help you develop skills and abilities that are desirable and/or rare. Keep doing this till the day you retire. Don't be lazy and just take the easiest jobs and responsibilities.
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Non Sequitur



Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 8:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
If there is an international school near you why not ask to see a department head and get their input?
A friend who is registered and classroom experienced in her home country was getting 4x what I was earning as FT.
This was a true International with expat students as well as wealthy locals.
I agree with RM. Full home country registration is the prerequisite for higher paying China teaching jobs.
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getbehindthemule



Joined: 15 Oct 2015
Posts: 712
Location: Shanghai
PostPosted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 12:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thank you for the feedback.

RM:
100% correct and I have recently had that wake up call.
I have just taken on a small class on Saturdays, teaching English (Side by Side) to young learners. It is well paid and will help to develop my skills. I plan to take on more projects going forward. Great reply, Thank you Smile

ns / NS:
Thank you, yes, I currently work for the local department of an international school and I am aware that full home country registration is required for the IB/PYP departments. And, also how their wages are considerably higher.

As getting fully licensed and experiened in my home country is not a viable option for me. I was just looking for alternative ways to improve my credentials. eg. Is it worth doing a CELTA/DELTA, would the investment improve my resume much (I have read numerous posts on this topic and opinion varies).
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
PostPosted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 1:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
getbehindthemule wrote:
NS:
Thank you, yes, I currently work for the local department of an international school and I am aware that full home country registration is required for the IB/PYP departments. And, also how their wages are considerably higher.

As getting fully licensed and experiened in my home country is not a viable option for me. I was just looking for alternative ways to improve my credentials. eg. Is it worth doing a CELTA/DELTA, would the investment improve my resume much (I have read numerous posts on this topic and opinion varies).

You really need to figure out what you want to teach. Obviously, teaching English isn't the same as teaching science; a CELTA/Delta isn't going to be of much value for a science teaching post. Ditto for a science teacher qualification in a TEFL role. Apples-n-oranges. So choose which teaching situation you want long term and focus on what you'd need to get there. Otherwise, you'll be spinning your wheels and/or wasting money on irrelevant certs and training.

Since you keep mentioning an interest in teaching science, definitely join International Schools Review, which will connect you to other science/content teachers worldwide. Additionally, start looking at actual job ads for science teachers in your target countries. If you're aiming at schools at the low end, focus on those. If the better, top private schools grab your attention, then that's what you should be researching. The point is, use the requirements/qualifications indicated in the job ads as a guide for what credentials and experience employers expect.
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